Elevator-controlling mechanism



Patented May 28, 1889.A

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W. E. N ICKERSON.

N. PETERS Fhmulnngraphlr, Wauhingun. D. C.

ELEVATOR GONTROLLING MBGHANISM.

(No Model.)

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM E. NICKERSON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELEVATOR-CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,012, dated May 28, 1889.

Application led February 8, 1889. Serial No. 299,120. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM EMERY NICK- ERSON, of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Regulating the Movement of Elevator-Controlling Mechanism, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so guard and restrict the movement of the controlling mechanism of an elevator that no abrupt movement can be imparted to that mechanism by the attendant; and it consists in connecting with that part of the controlling mechanism that is moved by the attendant a device that permits of gradual movement and resists abrupt movement.

Myinvention is illustrated in the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation showing such parts as are required to illustrate the application of my invention. 2 is a cross vertical section through the regulating-cylinder of my device. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on line :r of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing a modified form of the interior of the regulating-cylinder.

A common difficulty with elevators is that in suddenly start-ing or stopping a disagreeable sensation is felt by the occupant of the carriage. Another and more serious result of the abrupt starting or stopping of an elevatorcarriage is the danger to the machinery. In starting too abruptly there is danger of breaking either the ropes or some part of the maehinery, and in stopping too suddenly there is danger of jumping the ropes and cansing dangerous complications of the working parts.

The intent of my invention is to obviate these objectionable features.

In the drawings, Fig. l, N represents the elevator-carriage, and I the hoisting-rope. The rope I passes over the pulley C to the hoisting-engine.

K, Fig. 2, is the starting and stopping rope, usually termed the shipping-rope. This shippingrope K passes over the pulley E and under the pulley R, the shaft of which operates the controlling mechanism of the elevator by any of the well-known devices, and is connected to the piston-rod P of my regulating device at L, and indirectly at W, through the yoke S, so that any movement of the rope K must be in unison with the movement of the piston-rod P and the piston P. The interior and construction of the regulating-cylinder A are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The cylinder A has at its top a chamber, A', which is connected by a passage, A2, to a subchamber, A2, located at the lower end of the cylinder, as shown. This sub-chamber A2 is full of liquid and receives the lower end of the piston-rod P at the downward stroke.

4The passage A3 allows the iiuid in the subchamber to flow out and upward in this case to the chamber A. As the piston-rod P is withdrawn from the sub-chamber, the fluid returns and occupies its place. The arrangement of the sub-chamber and its passage A3 obviates the necessity of a close-fitting stuffing-box for the piston-rod at the base of the cylinder. By allowing the piston-rod to pass entirely through the cylinder, as shown, I am enabled to dispense with any device for compensating for the displacement of the rod as it enters the cylinder.

The passage B, Fig. 2, extends from one end of the cylinder to the other, and is in communication with the interior of the cylinder through the orifices b l). The effect of the orifices Zi bis to regulate the iiow of fluid from one side of the piston to the other, the action being as follows: If we suppose the piston to occupy a central position in the cylinder, as indicated in the drawings, then it may be started very easily, as there are a large number of orifices b Z) both above and below it, so that the iinid within the cylinder can freely flow from one end of the cylinder to the other, and thus allow of a comparatively easy movement of the piston, either up or down, as it starts from its central position; but as the piston approaches either end of the cylinder its movement becomes lnore and more opposed by the flow of I'luid, (as the fluid has fewer orifices b b to flow through.)

As the piston P is connected by its rod P', yoke S, and rope K to the controlling mechanism of the elevator, it will be understood that if the movement of the piston P is restricted,so that vit cannot be abruptly moved from one extreme position to the other, then the movement of the controlling mechanism of the elevator-carriage is also restricted and governed, so that the abrupt starting and stopping of the elevatorcarriage is prevented. y

In the device shown inthe drawings, the restricting action increases as the piston P approaches either end. To illustrate: If the ro/elevator-carriage is at rest, then the piston Will occupy a central position in the cylinder, as shown, and it will start easily, the action being to allow the partial opening of the valve with little restriction; but as the motion continues it is more and more opposed, so as to prevent the sudden full opening of the valve. In stopping the carriage, the piston must be started from one end of the cylinder when its motion is not opposed, so that the sudden closing of a large area of the valveopeningis prevented, and thus the speed of the carriage is gradually reduced to suchan extent that the continued unrestrained closing of the valve Will occasion no shock. Y

, In Fig. 4I have shown a cylinder in which the passages for allowing the fluid to pass from one side of the piston are .modified in form-that is, they consist in channels c c, formed in the interior Walls of the cylinder, and being made deeper in the central part of the cylinder-that is, they have more capaillustrate my invention and to accomplish the objects in view, but do not Wish to confine myself to any particular form of mechanism for the retarder, as that device might be eliminated bodily and an equivalent put in its place that shall be entirely different in its construction and yet embody, when taken with the other parts, niy invention.

In the controlling mechanism of kan elevator,the combination of the controlling-rope K and piston P with the cylinder A, having the passage-Way B and the openings b b, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of t'Wo subscribing Witnesses', on this 6th day of February, A. D. 1889.

' WILLIAM E. NICKERSON. Vitnesses FRANK G. PARKER, MATTHEW M. BLUNT. 

